Turkey proposes joint leadership with Aust for COP31
Türkiye has offered to jointly lead next year’s UN climate summit with Australia, but the two sides have yet to reach an agreement and discussions over hosting have not yet been resolved, Turkish diplomatic sources said.
Australia and Türkiye bid to host COP31 in 2022 and neither withdrew; This has led to a distracting stalemate that must be overcome at this year’s COP30 meeting, currently held in Belem, Brazil.
The annual COP – or Conference of the Parties – is the world’s main forum for promoting climate action. The host is important because they set the agenda and lead the diplomacy needed to reach global agreements.
Turkish sources said Turkey and Australia were exploring a joint presidency model in talks on the margins of the UN General Assembly in September, including sharing duties in hosting high-level meetings and jointly leading negotiations.
They said these talks created a “basis of mutual understanding” but the proposal did not move forward.
According to sources, later discussions revealed different views on how the co-chairmanship could operate within the framework of UN procedures.
Australian Energy Minister Chris Bowen will travel to Brazil for COP30 on Saturday, saying a decision will be made there and that he has “overwhelming support” for Australia’s candidacy.
Canberra has said it wants to host alongside Pacific island nations to highlight the climate threats they face. The Pacific Islands Forum supports Australia’s proposal.
Türkiye, on the other hand, says its candidacy emphasizes cooperation and inclusiveness and aims to focus more on financing for developing countries while showcasing its progress towards a 2053 net-zero emissions target.
Turkish sources stated that President Tayyip Erdoğan expressed this opinion in his recent correspondence with the Australian prime minister, and that Türkiye still believes that “flexible formulas” can be developed as consultations continue.
Sources also stated that Türkiye is ready to host the summit alone and take over the presidency if no agreement is reached.
The annual talks revolve around five regional groups and must be unanimously agreed upon by the 28 members of the “Western Europe and Others Group” bloc, which includes COP31’s host Australia and Türkiye.
